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The Truth Behind 50c Fares

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On August 5th 2024 50c fares were introduced across Queensland. With this new, much cheaper fare system you would only be charged 50c per trip, no matter where you came from or how far you’ve travelled. But at a closer glance it quickly becomes evident that the initiative is very costly and could have easily been implemented at a much lower cost for more benefit to the public. In this episode we explore why 50 cent fares are here, what they actually are and investigate whether they are a good policy or just a blatant vote grab conveniently implemented just before an election.

Timestamps
Chapter 1 : Birth of a Bargain
Introduction: 00:00
Background: 00:32
2024 State Election: 02:16
Failed Fare Legislation: 02:45

Chapter 2 : Was it Really Worth It?
Cost of Living Relief: 03:49
Lack of Concession Targeting: 5:27
True Cost of the Scheme: 06:59
Removal of Distance Based Pricing: 07:48
Effects on Public Transport Patronage: 08:33
Overestimated Increases in Patronage Attributed to the Scheme: 09:39
Removal of Peak Pricing: 12:33
Effects on Traffic: 13:58
The Bottom Line: 16:21

Chapter 3 : Ulterior Motives?
The Popular Policy: 18:24
Steven Miles Skits: 19:11
Questioning Bart Mellish: 19:54
Theory 1, Electoral Sugar Hit: 21:02
Theory 2, Populist Politics: 21:39
Just Theories: 22:11

Chapter 4 : How do we fix this?
Limitations on Ministerial Powers: 22:30
Sensibly Lowering Fares: 23:10
Fixing Concessions: 24:43
Meaningfully Boosting Patronage: 25:26
Small Step for Fixing Traffic: 26:50
Wrapping it Up: 27:32

Want to see more content?
Enjoyed the video, here is another video about Brisbane’s rail network:
How NOT to Build an Airport Rail Link

All sources are linked in the pinned comment.

20 Comments

@BrissieTransit Creator 6 months ago (edited) Pinned

[1] Fuel economy of Australian passenger vehicles – a regional perspective
https://www.bitre.gov.au/sites/default/files/is_091.pdf

[2] Miles plan to bust congestion: Public transport (almost) free
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100402

[3] Public Transport records tumble with 50 cent Fares
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101081

[4] The Crisafulli Government Makes 50 Cent Public Transport Fares Permanent
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101663

[5] Have 50¢ fares reduced traffic in Brisbane? Yes and no
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/have-50-fares-reduced-traffic-in-brisbane-yes-and-no-20241101-p5kn94.html

[6] Translink PT performance dashboard
https://translink.com.au/about-translink/reports-and-publications/performance

[7] 50 days until 50 cent fares
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100591

[8] Queensland's 50c public transport fares hit six-month mark, with patronage up nearly 20pc
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-10/queensland-50c-fares-public-transport-analysis/104910866

[9] Queenslanders on Board with the LNP’s Permanent 50 Cent Fares
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101980

[10] $1.5bn earmarked for permanent 50 cent fare policy
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/15bn-earmarked-for-permanent-50-cent-fare-policy/news-story/e39290033606861245539042c94e7c1f

[11] 50 Cent Fares Forever https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/bill.first/bill-2025-002#sec.4

[12] INVESTIGATING FARE-FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
https://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/information-paper-final-report-opal-fares-2020-2024-investigating-fare-free-public-transport-february-2020_0.pdf

[13] Public transport pricing
https://assets.pc.gov.au/research/completed/public-transport/public-transport.pdf

[14] Transport Modelling Report for South East Queensland
https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-08/Transport%20Modelling%20Report%20for%20South%20East%20Queensland.pdf

[15] Steven Miles ignored expert panel advising against 50c fares
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qld-politics/steven-miles-ignored-expert-panel-advising-against-50c-fares/news-story/bbd34ae650dd18ed7f67d29be0725065?

[16] Brisbane PT patronage growth
https://danielbowen.com/2025/07/11/brisbane-pt-patronage-growth/

[17] The Cost of Owning a Car
https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/car-insurance/guides/car-buying/cost-of-owning-a-car.html

[18] Australia’s public transport is among the world’s most expensive. Could Queensland’s 50c fares work countrywide?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/sep/21/australia-public-transport-costs-queensland-50c-fares#:~:text=Australia%20has%20the%20third%2Dmost,$53%20and%20Sydney%20at%20$50.

[19] Queensland’s Fifty-Cent Public Transport Fares. Popular, but Good Public Policy?
https://www.lek.com/insights/tt/au/ei/queenslands-fifty-cent-public-transport-fares-popular-good-public-policy#

[20] ETCS – INNER CITY PROJECT BUSINESS CASE
https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/54509/ETCS-Inner-City-Cost-Benefit-Analysis-Summary_web.pdf

[21] Free and frequent public transport
https://greens.org.au/qld/freePT

[22] CRR Business Case August 2017

[23] How have 50c fares impacted public transport usage in QLD?
https://www.informa.com.au/insight/how-have-50c-fares-impacted-public-transport-usage-in-qld/

[24] Brisbane BRT System
https://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/conferences/2012/BRT/Warren.pdf

[25] Annual Operational Plan Progress and Quarterly Financial Report June 2025 BCC
https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/content/dam/brisbanecitycouncil/corpwebsite/about-council/documents/annual-operational-plan-progress-and-quarterly-financial-report-june-2025.pdf

[26] Inquiry into expanding Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone
https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/4960b6/contentassets/56015a73cd3f4842926026a7ac22e7e4/inquiry-into-expanding-melbournes-free-tram-zone.pdf

[27] M1 Public Transport https://www.atap.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/m1-public-transport.pdf

[28] Infrastructure Australia – Project Evaluation Summary Brisbane Metro
https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-06/Project-Evaluation-Summary-Brisbane-Metro.pdf

[29] The most affordable cities for transport and how much people are paying for fuel
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-05/cost-of-living-public-transport-fuel-driving-expenses-report/103546164

@prestonjd04 6 months ago (edited)

In my opinion, one of the most underestimated benefits 50c fares has had is one you can’t really use data to back up. I think it has really changed the perception of public transport in queensland from one where it is looked down upon as worse than driving to one viewed as a good alternative, while nothing has really changed in terms of the service I think it has re-excited people about the idea of using public transport again. Even people I know who would never use public transport are supportive of increased public transport usage because it provides very clear benifits to everyone, “less people driving means less congestion on the roads” as well as “if the trains and buses are gonna run anyways they may as well be full”. As well from my personal (anecdotal) experience when I take public transport, I semi regularly overhear conversations about how good public transport actually is and how good the fares are. Why that’s so important, is it means conversations about public transport are starting to happen creating the political appetite for change, making big infrastructure investments more viable.

TLDR: it changed the narratives people have about Public Transport and made taking public transport cool

@josshmot 6 months ago (edited)

While 50c fares may have a large economic cost and not many benefits, economics is only part of the equation. I think the reason it's popular isn't because people think it's economically viable, I think it's just because it's...nice? It's nice not to have to worry about fairs when traveling - if I want to hop on a bus into the city I don't have to weigh the costs and benefits, I can just...go. It also appears to have improved the public's perception of public transport and increased support for it. It would be interesting to see a study on 50c fares or free public transport and its impact on people's mental health, because anecdotally that's where I've observed most of the benefits seem to be. I also think 50c fares may improve our public transport system in the long run, because more people are interested in it and proud of it because of 50c fares.

@mwilkins1644 6 months ago

As someone who has had to travel from Ipswich or Beenleigh into Brisbane (and further North) a lot in my life, I love the 50c fares. I suspect most of us who dont live in or near the Brisbane CBD do

@smadge1 6 months ago

I benefit greatly from the 50c fares to get into the city for work on the train. I'm fortunate I have easy access to train. (As long as I get in the car park early enough)

@monsieurliquorice 6 months ago (edited)

TRANSITCHAT UPLOADED. MUST. WATCH.

In all seriousness I do really like 50 cent fares, I hear it being discussed on PT often and people LOVE it, and tourists love it too. It's a massive win for our transit, which is otherwise FAR behind every other state capital aside from maybe Adelaide.
I personally find that 50 cent fare makes taking short trips just a stop or two very viable and appealing, which has amplified by the recent fuel shortages - where making small car trips is just not worth it anymore.

@ThysiosX 6 months ago

50 cent fairs are amazing. Well they would be, if I could use them.

They're a nice to have, but they really need to be investing heavily into new public transit routes. Cross River Rail is great, but doesn't help people who didn't already have access to a train line. We need to see some new train lines services new regions.

@lyonidias 6 months ago

Change the way you think of public transport, think of it as a service. Services cost and are not there to return a profit- the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Border Security etc. all cost money and are not there for a profit. Cheap transport for the public is a service to the public.

@blackflagqwerty 6 months ago

It's a brilliant idea. I rode the rails for 7 years. $60 a week down to $5 a week. The carriages have more occupied seats after the fares were introduced which means more cars off the road.

@rw-xf4cb 6 months ago

$3 petrol and $5 diesel should sort out the public transport use and road congestion at least for the foreseeable future.

@yurimogol54 6 months ago

first recorded woman in transitchat history at 2:25

@tzarkan8937 6 months ago

I like 50 cent fares it is something I wish I had when I was young.
Bus fare would eat into food money. I remember I used to get off at mater hospital bus station and walk to the city whenever my friends and I wanted to hang out there. Also getting off at Griffith bus station and walking about 4km home.
18-20 year old me after a night of drinking and not wanting to pay for bus fare I would walk from the valley or city to Sunnybank. Which is a 15-17km walk at 10pm at night.
It's also good for tourist, helps them explore our city and keep hire cars off the roads and gives them more money to spend.

@sgbuses 6 months ago

I hate to say this but when 50 cents eventually do go away, which is a matter of time, transport bloggers/urbanists and enthusiasts will be up for the immense flak because this video will be Exhibit A.

@Speant87 6 months ago

I went from NEVER using a bus to now choosing to use a bus anytime that it makes UBER seem so expensive that using uber no longer makes sense

@steampunknord 6 months ago

4:50 now we gotta hear a comparison on that cost to benefit for roads and highways.
Cause roads are by far some of the most expensive infrastructure.

@its_Riley_OBrien 6 months ago (edited)

It's unfortunate that you seem to place no value in the uptake of leisure trips. Your analysis is overly economic and hence misses a huge part of the value 50c fares produces for people. Anecdotally, I'm often taking public transport trips which I otherwise would not have taken because cost is no longer a consideration. I'm able to take the train up to Gympie for a day, visit the end of various lines, or to just study in an environment I enjoy (off-peak trains).

It costs nothing to the government for me to make these trips as the services were already running. It only costs me 50c, but I gain a whole lot in non-economic value.

Edit: I'll also add that the cost-benefit ratio being 0.18 isn't a bad thing at all since it's not being spent anywhere, but rather going into the pockets of taxpayers. If we increased taxes by the exact same amount that it saved commuters, we would end up revenue neutral, but with extra value created since the cost-benefit ratio is positive.

@DxGamer6767 6 months ago

2:03 I think everybody knows it was a "vote grab" but at the same time it seems like the only things that get done are immediately after an election or when one is on the horizon, what is done during those two moments is what matters (unfortunately)

@jimmyboy2 6 months ago

I use the train from Boggo Rd to Manly ... i go sailing there. I use to drive, now I use train since 50 cent fares come in. I cannot justify fuel cost of car vs PT

@edwardeverett5627 6 months ago

What no one has realised is that 50c fairs is the greatest form of ensuring equality in regards to any one regardless of where they live to have a better paying job. It has improved the mobility of many more people than what people think